Pick Six: Week 15

1. Behind Tom Brady’s good looks and nice guy personality is a competitor with an incomparable desire to win. After a week of Tim Tebow this and Tim Tebow that, Brady wanted to make a statement. Mission accomplished: 23-34, 320 yards, two TD passes and a rush TD. Tebow is a nice story, but when it comes to the best in the league, Brady expects the list starts with him. Don’t you think Brady envisioned Tebow’s face on the spot Brady spiked the ball after his touchdown run? I think so.

2. New England’s tight ends would be tag team champions if they were pro wrestlers. Last week Rob Gronkowski had a career game while setting a single season record for touchdowns by a tight end. Because he drew so much attention Sunday, Hernandez was tagged to carry the offense. Hernandez responded with career highs in receptions (nine) and yards (129) and a touchdown. We expected a former University of Florida Gator to have a big game. Hernandez stole the show from Tebow this week.

3. I’ve been waiting since DT Ron Brace was activated from the physically unable to perform list to mention his name. He was credited with just one solo tackle, but he forced a pivotal fumble in the second quarter. The offense cashed the turnover in for just a field goal but it turned the momentum in the Patriots’ favor. It was Brace’s first career forced fumble.

4. LB Rob Ninkovich pounced on the loose ball forced by Brace, but it was one of the few times Ninkovick was sure-handed. Three times he failed to bring down Tebow for sacks. The first missed tackle resulted in Tebow’s nine-yard TD run. Ninkovich finally got Tebow for a 28-yard loss late in the game. Ninkovich wasn’t the only one that had a difficult time wrestling down Tebow. DT Brandon Deaderick couldn’t hold on to Tebow in the endzone. It would have been a huge play because Tebow fumbled in the end zone. A safety would had made the score 36-16, a touchdown 41-16 just seconds into the fourth quarter.

5. WR Deion Branch was ruled out for the game with a leg injury. This opened the opportunity for WR Chad Ochocinco to start. He took advantage by pulling in his first touchdown reception as a Patriot. It was his only reception as the rest of the afternoon showed one miscommunication and Brady just overthrowing Ochocinco on a short out route. More playing time didn’t equal a larger contribution. By the way, no elaborate celebration after the score.

6. Some rushing numbers: Coming into the game, the Broncos averaged 156 yards per game. After one quarter they gained 167 yards. It’s the second week in a row New England’s run defense finished with poor results. Denver finished with 252 yards. For the Patriots, they actually ran the ball more than they passed, 36 to 34. Six of those rush attempts belonged to Brady, tying a career high set in 2002 and hit twice in 2006.

Extra Point: With the win and a New York Jets loss, New England won the AFC East. It’s the ninth division championship for the Patriots under Bill Belichick.